Preserving Health in Winter

In winter more people get flu, bronchitis, poor circulation. Some people have winter depression. Or more frequent urination, etc. 

Why is there a higher percentage of death rate from disease in winter than in any other seasons? Why does more depression exist in winter? Why do asthma, emphysema and bronchitis worsen in winter? Why is there frequent urination? Should only pollen be blamed for hypersensitivity in spring?

The laws of nature are: Sow and grow in spring, grow in summer, harvest in autumn, store in winter. Our human bodies also follow the laws of nature to prevent illness and preserve health.

To go with it will bring health, to go against it will bring illness”.

Winter is the season for preservation and storing. But why to preserve and store, what to preserve and store, how to preserve and store?

A. Why to preserve and store?

Winter is the coldest season of the year. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)’s Yin-Yang theory Yin is cold and dominated by static energy while Yang is warm and dominated by active energy. With winter’s low temperature and cold wind, Yin energy prevails and Yang energy hides. In nature, everything goes into a state of dormancy and animals hibernate (after the harvest season of autumn). Nature is preserving and storing its Yang energy. As a part of nature, humans should follow the law of nature, preserve and store the Yang energy inside our body. Only if enough Yang energy is preserved and stored in the body that sprouting becomes possible in spring, growing in summer and harvest in autumn for our body and nature.

B. What to preserve and store?

 TCM holds the view that the Yang energy in the kidney is warm and has a driving force. With strong Yang energy in the body we can resist against cold, has good blood circulation to enhance mental health and physical health and to prevent depression and anxiety.

Preserve and store the mental energy,

We have Seven emotions “excitement, anger, worry, sadness, grief, fear, shock”, they are normal emotions.

But the extreme emotions can damage our inner energy lead to depression and anxiety.

C. How to preserve and store?

1. Early sleep and later getting up. (at the time when the sun rises)
2. Eat warm food, avoid eating and drinking cold food.
3. Keep warm, especially the lower back (that is near the kidney), abdomen, head, legs and feet.
4. Try to keep in a stable mood, stay calm.
5. Appropriate amount of physical exercise. Avoid excessive sweating,

    D. Tips for preserving and storing Energy.

1. Wear a singlet to keep the kidney, chest and belly warm, wear socks and hat to keep warm in winter.
2. People who have bronchitis, emphysema and asthma especially need to pay attention to keeping the chest warm.
3. Having feet bath in hot water helps improve winter depression and poor circulation.
4. Eat more sesame, walnuts, nuts and meat to help the  Yang Energy.       
5. Ginger and lamb soup is good to strengthen the Yang energy in winter.
6. Have walnut, honey and ginger at the same time, it is good for your brain, and it helps with the Yang energy.

Preserving health in winter, you will get healthier in the coming spring.

Prevention and wisdom are the two principles of Traditional Qi.

Written by Angela Tian Zhu (Chinese Medicine Practitioner)

© Copyright Angela Zhu 2020